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- (No Model.) 4 Sheets- -Sheet 1.

J. KEITH. POSTAGE STAMP ATTAGHER AND REGORDBR. No. 548,880.

Patented Oct. 29, 1895.

Witnesses AN DREW EGRAHAM. PHUTO-LI'THD.WASHINNN. D.C

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-sheaf 2.

J KEITH. POSTAGE STAMP ATTAGHER AND RECORDER. ,No. 548,880. Patented 0015.29. 1895.

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1 llllllll 4 Shets-Sheet 3.

. No Model.)

J.. KEITH. POSTAGE STAMP ATTAGHER AND RECORDER.

' Patented Oct. 29,1895.

Witnesses 1 AN DREW 3.6RAHAM. PHOTD-LIMOWASHINGTON. D.C.

(No Model.) Q 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

POSTAGE STAMP ATTAUHER AND RECORDER. A L

No. 548,880. Patented 081;. 29, 1895';

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W I V I V atozn1 Units STATES- V JOHN KEITH, OF OTTAWA, CANADA.

POSTAGE-STAMP ATTACHER AND RECORDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 5 18,8 80, dated October 29, 1895. Application filed April 1, 1895- Serial No. 544,113- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: cured a stationary cylindrical body B, with a Be it known that- I, JOHN KEITH, of the city rotary end and a spring-supportN for a movof Ottawa, in the county of Carleton and Prov: able table T. The upper surface of the table 55 ince of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, when fully raised is nearly level with the lowhave invented certain new and useful Imest point of the circumference of the body B, provements in Automatic Postage-Stamp Atthe latter being sufficiently raised on stands tachers and Recorders; and I do hereby deon the base. The cylinder B, which may be clare that the following is a full, clear, and exsolid or composed of a shell I) and ends b, as 60 act description of the same, reference being shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5, has its circumferhad to the accompanying drawings, forming ence equal a multiple of the size of stamps a part hereof. to be used. I prefer it equal to fourteen My invention, which will be hereinafter stamps, so as to hold a sheet of ten rows and fully set forth and claimed, relates to devices leaving a space of, four at the bottom unoc- 6 I for holding and attaching postage stamps to cupied. Its length is immaterial, being made envelopes and other objects and recording the ample for thelength of a sheet of stamps. In a number used. working a sheet S of stamps is placed upon The object of my invention is a machine, this cylinder from the top, so that the spare device, or apparatus adapted to receive and space between the opposite edges is at the bot- 70 hold a series of connected postage stamps and tom, and a gage b', Fig. 2, is secured to the to detach and secure them upon envelopes and rear side of the cylinder to receive the edge of other objects after moistening the latter by the sheet on that side in a true position. means of simple movements without hand- A transverse or circumferential gage B, ling them, also to record the number used. Figs. 1 and 5, is provided at the rear end of 7 Figure 1 is a top view of my new machine, the cylinder and adapted to receive the rear 2 5 the stamping-table being removed and parts edge of the sheet and propel it along the cylbeing insection. Fig. 2 is a transverse secinder. For this purpose an arm B" is secured tion on line 2 2, Figs. 1 and 5. Fig. 3 is a perto it, Figs. 2 and 5, which passes through a spective obverse and rear view of the table slot B in the shell I) to the center of the cyl- 80 support. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the table inder, where it forms the nut of a screw B,

and adjoining portion. Fig. 5 is a longitudipassing through the same, and which, being nalsection on line 5 5, Figs. 1, 2, 6, and 7, journaled in the ends of the cylinder, is parts being broken out. Fig. 6 is an elevaadapted to propel it forward and backward. tion of the front end. Fig. 7 is a sectional A casing or cover B is provided, completely 85 v end elevation immediately at the rear of the inclosing and protecting the stamps placed 5 front plate, being a section on line 7 7, Fig. upon the cylinder- That shown in Figs. 1, 2,

. 5. Fig.8 is a detail in perspective, showing 4, 5, 7, and 11 is in two halves hinged low the mechanism for turning the disk. Fig. 9 down at the sides and joined at the top, being is a detail showing parts of the disk in secthere provided with lugs 5 which may be 0 tion. Fig. 10 is a detail showing one of the provided with'means for locking them.

spring-pins and cam. Fig. 11 is a cross-sec- The front end of the cylinder 1) has its tion at line 11 11, Fig. 5, showing the knife journal for the screw B' formed into a forand its operating-spring. Fig. 12 is an elevawardly-extending sleeve 12'', the front end of tion of the mechanismimmediately at the rear which passes through and is secured to the 5 of the dial, showing the spring and gear turnfront-end plate B, which is secured to the 5 ing the central spindle and movingthe sheet base A. An end plate 13", secured to the base, of stamps longitudinally. Fig. 13 is an elevacarries the screw and cylinder at the rear end, tion of the rear end, showing the dial indicatthe rigid connection between the sleeve b" ing the number of transverse strips of stamps and front plate B giving rigidity to the cyltoo used. Fig. 14 is an elevation of the rear end inder. (See Fig. 5.) i

immediately at the rear of the wheels and Upon the sleeve B is journaled a'disk or showing the mechanism for releasing the gear. end 0 of the same diameter as the cylinder Upon a base A, Figs. 1, 4, 5,6, and 7, is seand so close to it as to leave merely room for 01, and having a slopingcutting-edge d-in-; tersecting the surface of the cylinder and having the effect of a draw out. This is for the purpose of cutting off attransverse row or;

strip of stamps that has been passed upon the edge of the disk 0, so that the perforated line coincideswith the joint between the disk-C and the adjacent cylinder .end. The operation is performed by drawing the knife by the handle from rear to front, a spring D, coiled and secured upon the sleeve b" ina recess in the disk 0 and having the end secured tothe knife, moving the latter back 'ready to be again-drawn forward.

The disk 0 carries at its front face equidistant from the center and'near its periphery a series of equidistant pins 0 in holes sunk in the disk andprojectedfforwardby springs C, insertedbetween the ends of thepins and the bottom of the holes, one for each stampspace on'the surface of'the disk, as shownin Figs. 5, '7, 8, and 9. The projecting part of eachpin has secured to it a downward=project-' ing pin a, forming a shoulder thereon, bent at a right angle back toward and projecting into a hole in the disk, in which it may. slide freely and forming a guide to the pin C,Whic'h also slides freely in its own hole in said disk and is guided therein. The front ends of the pins 0' bear-plainly-marked numerals in'proper succession, corresponding'to the number of stamps in one stripsay from .0 to 99, 1 to 10, or 1 to t-and'saidends so marked bear against the inner face-of .the front-end plate B In one place of the 'path of said pins, preferably at the top, a perforation b is provided, into-which each ,pin coming opposite is pressed by the spring 0''. Said perforation may beprovided with abezel and glass or other transparent'insertion b at the front, so that theperforation forms a recess, however.

When the disk 0 is being rotated, the'first pin C coming opposite the perforation'li 'will pass into it, stop the furthermotationof the disk, and exhibit the numberof its face. For the purpose of disengaging such .pin a leverE 'is attached to a spring drum orhub e, journaled upon the sleeve b" and containing a spring E, having one end secured to said sleeve and the other to said drum and tending to turn the lever toward the rear,"the'latter being flat and close to the inner-face of the end plate and the upper end projecting toaiford a finger-hold 6 above the surface of'the disk and its cover. To the inner face of. said'lever is secured a segmental finger e, projecting toward the front between the front plate 13 and the guide'pins 0' below the pins 0 and wedge or cam-shaped, being of such a breadth at'the heel that in being drawn forward and bearing on the pin 0' it will press the pin 0 so far into thedisk-C as-to withdraw it from the perforation b and finally keep the pin 0 in engagement in a notch e', as shown in Fig. 10. To accomplish this the lever E must be drawn toward the front against the pressure of .the spring E, and when it has arrived in the position shown in Fig. 10, the pin in the perforation 19 being released, it is let go and the spring E turns it backward, together with the disk 0, the latter being moved by the disengaged pin 0', against which the heel of the cam e"-presses. the space of one stamp when the next forward pin 0 has arrived opposite the perforation b engages it, and stops the further progress of the disk. To steady the disk O'while-the'lever E is beingmanipul'atedand limit'its forward motion, a spring-detent e" is provided on the inner faceof the-front-plate, Figs. 6 and 9, "for one of the'rearward pins O',-allowing said pins .to passrearwardly over it, butst-riking it 'if theleverEshould accidentally tendtoturn it. forward.

At the rear is asma'll-en'dless apron F,Fig. 7of the same width as the edge'of-the disk 0, pressed against .the surface of the edge. It passes over an'npper rolle-rFa little above the line of the gage Ki -and a small one F near theeenter of thedisk at thebottom. Said rollers are journa'led ina box or frame F, which is carried by a springf, secured to the base or some intermediate object, such as the block A, which spring presses the two rollers againstithe edge of the disk. Means are provided-onthe frameF', such as the handle f topress it down and cause an open space be tween the apron and thes'urface of the'disk when pushing a new strip of stamps upon the disk. These rollers andapron'have the object of holdingtheforward .end of the strip tight againstthe rotary disk and cause the former "toitravel with the latterand-to'present the forward end'z'. e., one-stamp-under the center of the disk.

The .upper surface of the disk O,so'far as the's'trip of stamps extends, is covered in and protectedby-a coverB", secured to the front 'plateB as a continuation of the cover-B of the cylinder. In order to present a clear space nnderthe center of the disk C, the front-end plate 13. is shaped to followthe contour of the disk pastthat vpoint, so that its connection withthe base isrearward, as shown in Fig. 6.

To the frontof the front plate B and beitween the center and the perforation b is pivoted at G .an arm G, 'the upper end of which'is linked at g to the lever E, and the lower end carries a sponge or brush g, bent to extend across the surface of the disk 0. Thatpart g" of the said arm immediately on and. above-said sponge or brush is made tubularto .serveas'a reservoir and communication'therewith for some liquid, the transverse li'mb g"ibeing perforated, as shown in Figs. .5 and 6. This sponge or brush 9 moves with the lever E, sweeping close to the lower periphery of the disk 0 and under its center,

Thedisk-O is thus turned IIO and is adapted to moisten the envelope or other object at the spot where the stamp is to be affixed.

The screw 13", having the function of pro polling the sheet or remainder of the sheet of stamps S along the cylinder B and bringing a new strip upon the disk when one has been consumed, must have such a pitch that a certain measured turn propels the arm B" exactly the width of a strip. The screw may be turned by hand at the rear end by means of a suitable key or by any suitable mechanism, one such being shown in Figs. 5, 12, 13, and 14. In this instance the pitch of the screw 13 is such that one revolution moves the arm B" the width of a strip of stamps. The end ofthe screw carries a pinion'h, gearing into a wheel h, ten times its size, (presuming that a sheet of ten strips is to be dealt with,) so that for every revolution of the wheel h the screw 13 will make ten. The arbor H upon which the wheel h is mounted, is jonrnaled in the end plate 13, and a plate I, forming part of a casing for the mechanism, and also a dial-face bearing numerals corresponding to the number of strips in a sheet-say '0 to 9-and passing through said dial, carries an index hand or finger H, and has its ends squared to adapt it for the application of a key for winding. Said arbor has coiled upon it a spring H, having one end secured to a pin 71/ and tending to turn said wheel and arbor. The latter has also secured upon it a disk h, with ten pushed down, is guided at the upper end by a pivot-pin m in a slot m, at the lower end by a hooked pin m at the side of the lever L, and

at the opposite or outer side and between the two guides by a spring M, pressing it against the other two. Above the hooked pin m and on the edge which bears against the pin by the pressure of the spring is a wedgedshape'd projection or incline m, adapted, when the pusher is being pressed down, to cause it to deviate against the pressure of the spring M by bearing against the pin m and slipping off the end of the lever L, care being taken that this does not occur before the detent has been disengaged from one of the notches 5, but immediately afterward. The lever L, being thus released the moment the detent K is released from the notch, ceases to control the detent and allows it to again press upon the edge of the disk It, ready to engage the next notch. The spring M presses the pusher not only againstthe guide m, butalso lifts it as soon as the pressure upon it from the top is relaxed. Thus it will be seen that a touch of the presser M causes the spring H". to turn the screw 13 suffi cient to move a new strip of stamps on the disk 0, which now requires to be severed from the sheet, its end having first been admitted between the disk and the apron F at theroller F by depressing the rod f To hold the corner of the sheet it is clamped in the gage b by a spring-button b passing through the cover B When the arbor H has made one complete revolution, the screw 13 has made ten, and the arm B has traveled toward the front as far as it will go and must be brought back. This is done by turning the arbor H backward by means of a key applied to the rear end, releasing the detent K for each notch 5 and rewinding the spring H" at the same time. The indices at the front and back show the numberor stamps used, the rear showing the tons and the front the units. Thus, for instance,.when the sheet S is placed on thecylinder the hand H stands at f 9. The first strip isthen pushed on the disk 0, requiring a turn of one notch of the arbor H, bringing the finger H to O, at which point it remains while the first strip is being used, the numerals exhibited in the perforation 19 showing the number used off the strip. The stamps are afiixed to envelopes and other objects on the table T, Figs. 3, 4, and 6, adapted to slide longitudinally and supported upon a downwardly -yielding frame N. (Shown in Figs. 1,4, and 6.) Said frame consists of two pairs of curved legs n, each pair connected at the lower and inner ends by a cross-piece at, near the upper ends by a cross-piece n, and between the two by a rod n, which latter is journaled to the base A by staples n or other means at opposite and outward inclinations, the legs being approximately end to end. A strong plate-spring Nfor each pair of legsis secured to the base and extends over the rod n, pressing at its end upon the lower cross-piece n. The upper ends of each pair of legs carry an axle n, with a pair of rollers a near each end. Upon these rollers the table T travels,-

being guided by flanges t at the bottom bearing against the outer edges of the legs, as shown in Fig. 6. At the rear edge of the table, which extends well (at least half the size of the stamp) beyond the center line of the disk 0, is an upwardly-projecting gage-flange t, extending in length over the outer end and being stopped at a point where the'table is required to pass under the disk 0-. About in line with the said gage-flange, occupying the inner end of the table, but only slightly raised above its surface, is a spring-knife T, adapted to cut off a single stamp from a strip by striking transversely against the edge of the disk 0 from below. 1 I

The letter, envelope, or other object to which a stamp is to be affixed is placed upon the table against the gage t and the latter is rolled under the disk .C.- While the letter and IOC table are being so held, the lever E is pulled b.y;the:handle e, causing also an inward and outward sweep of the brush gflthus moistening that-partof the robjectto which thestamp is to beiaffixed. The return of the lever E turns the disk-O onespace and projects a stamp from between its lowersurfaceand the apron F under the centeroftthe diskand over themoistenedspaceof the object.

The table is now depressedand allowed to react with full force. The object is thus pressed upward against the projected stamp and the bottom of the disk, causing thestamp to ad- ,hereto the objectiandto be separated from the strip by the knife Tv'. When the strip is first cut from the sheet,,the leverE must be pulled several times in order-to advance ,the

the-center ,of the cylinder andoperating at the front edge of the shell thereof, a-disk journaled at the center and :front end ofsaid cylinder and havingitsaedge level with said shell, means of rotating saiddisk intermittently a certain measured space, a-shortten'dless apron running over arollerat -each end and pressed against theedge ofsaid disk and extendingnear its center line at the bottom, a lever pivoted near the center of the disk and having its lower end benttosweepclose to the edge thereof and provided with a sponge or brush, a sliding table supported upon a spring frameand provided at itsrear edge withra-knife adapted to extend across the ,edgeof said disk and a springframe sup porting saidtable and jerk it upward against the lowerpart of the edge of the disk, substantially asset forth.

2. In a stamp affixer, the combination of a stationary cylinder adapted to carry upon its shell a sheet of stamps,,a gage on one'sideof said cylinder adapted to receive the edge of said sheet, a circumferential gage adapt-edto,

receive the rear edge of said sheet and means of moving the same intermittently, a rotary disk of the same diameter asthe cylinder and journaled upon a stationary bearing formed by the extended central part of the front end.

of the cylinder, a stationary plate parallel to the face of said disk to which said extended central part of the cylinder end issecured, a knife blade journaied upon said extended central part of the front end of the cylinder between said I end and the rotary disk and having in its hub a spring adapted to return .said blade after being drawn forward, a series of :pins projecting fromthe face of said disk and each pressed against said stationary plate by a spring at its rear said springs being equidistantifrom the center of the disk andvfrom eachgother, and each adaptedto engage a perforation in said stationary plate, a.lever journaled uponthe extended central part ofthe cylinder end and having incitsihubaspring tending to rotate it and provided with avcam vadapted to retract theengaged pin and by it turn the diskuntil another pin engages said perf,0ration, an arm vpivoted to thelouter face of the stationary plate and having its lower part made tubularand the end bent across the edge of the disk and perforated and pro- .Vided Withthe sponge or brush and having its upperend connected by a link to the spring actuated lever andashort endless apron passing over ,two rollers journaled in a frame or casing carried and pressed against the edge of the disk by a spring, substantiallyas. set forth.

,3. In a stampafiixer, the combination of a stationary cylinder having a slotted shell, a

shaft journaled in=the ends thereof, and having the portion between said ends screw threaded, an arm-'extendingthrough the slot in the shell provided with a threaded hub adapted to travel upon said screw shaft, a

gagegextending partly around the shell .of said vcylinder, and being secured to ,the projecting ,end of said arm, and means of rotating said screw intermittently a certain measured part, substantiallyas set forth.

,4. ,In a stampvaffixer and recorder, the combination of a stationary cylinder having a slotted shell, a screw journaled therein, an

arm with threaded hub upon said screw and pass against said lower guide pin and deviate ,said 'presser sidewise and cause it to slip off the end of the lever after having depressed and lifted the other end sufficiently to disengage the detent fromone of the notches, an indexror pointer at the end of the arbor and a dial face, substantially as set forth.

5. ,In astamp affixer and recorder, the combination of an arbor H carrying a hand or pointer and passing through a dial plate, a spur wheel h secured to said arbor, a spring H tending to rotate said wheel, a notched disk It secured upon said arbor, a hooked spring detent K adapted to engage the notches of said disk, a lever L adapted to lift said detent out of engagement, and a presser M hav- IOJ IIO

ing slot m and incline m and guided by the pins m and m and lifted and guided by the spring M and adapted to engage depress and slip off that end of the lever L which is not in contact with the detent, substantially as set forth.

6. In a stamp affixer and recorder, the combination of a stationary cylinder adapted to carry a sheet of stamps upon its shell,a disk of the same diameter journaled upon the center of the cylinder at one end, a series of pins held slidingly projecting from the face of said disk and tending to engage a perforation in an opposite plate by the pressure of springs when opposite the same in being turned, a pin secured to the projecting part of each of said pins at a right angle and bent backward and sliding in a perforation in said disk forming a guide, alever journaled upon the same cen-' ter as said disk and provided with a spring tending to turn said lever upon its bearing, a segmental finger secured to said lever wedge or cam shaped and adapted to press against the vertical parts of the guide pins and to cause them to retreat within said disk and .then engage the pin so repressed by its broad heel and turn the disk by it and a stationary plate against which said spring pins bear and having a perforation adapted to be engaged by all the pins in succession and stopping the rotation of the disk, substantially as set forth.

7. In a stamp afiixer and recorder, the combination of a rotary disk journaled upon a stationary horizontal bearing, a stationary plate parallel to the face of said disk, a series of pins slidingly held in said disk equidistant from its center and the end of each pressed against said plate by springs, a perforation in said plate adapted to be engaged by all the pins in rotation, apin secured to each spring I pin at a right angle to form a shoulder in the projecting portion and bent at a right angle backward into the disk to form a guide, a lever journaled upon the stationary bearing upon which the disk is journaled and having in its hub or drum a spring tending to rotate it, a segmental finger or cam on said lever narrow at the point and broad at the heel and adapted to bear on the shoulder of one of the spring pins when drawn in the direction contrary to the pressure of the spring and cansing it to retreat from the perforation in the plate and causing the disk to rotate when the heel of the cam engages it and the lever is allowed to follow the action of its spring, substantially as set forth.

8. In a stamp affixer and recorder, the combination of a rotary disk journaled upon a stationary bearing, a series of spring actuated pins projecting from its face equidistant from its center and equidistant from each other, numerals at the projecting ends of said pins, a stationary plate parallel to the faceof said disk and having a perforation adapted to be engaged by each of said pins in rotation by the action of their springs, means of disengaging the pin from such perforation and tending to rotate said disk and a short endless apron running over rollers journaled in a frame pressed by a spring against the edge of said disk, substantially as set forth.

9. In a stamp affixer, the combination of a rotary disk journaled upon a stationary bearing, a stationary plate parallel to the face of said disk and having a perforation adapted to receive a pin, a series of spring actuated pins projecting from the face of said disk equidistant from its center and equidistant from each other and pressing by the action of their springs with their ends against said stationary plate and adapted to engage said per foration in rotation, a lever having its hub journaled upon the stationary bearing of the disk and having a spring tending to swing it in one direction, a cam on said lever adapted to disengage the spring actuated pin from the perforation in the plate and push against the pin to cause the disk to turn upon its bearing, and an arm pivoted to the external face of the stationary plate and having its lower end bent at a right angle across the edge of the disk and having the bent part and the part immediately above made tubular and-the said bent part perforated and provided with a sponge or brush and its upper end connected by a link to the upper end of the spring 1ever, substantially as set forth.

10. In a stamp affixer, the combination of a table having guide flanges at its lower surface, a gage flange at one end of its rear edge and a spring knife at the other end, a spring support having rollers at its upper ends upon which said table may run and consisting of pairs of curved and inclined legs connected transversely and pivoted to the base and having their lower ends held down by springs, substantially as set forth.

11. In a stamp affixer, the combination of two pairs of curved and inclined legs connected transversely and pivoted to the base arranged with opposite inclinations and having their inner and lower ends held down by springs and the upper ends provided with rollers, a table having guide flanges at its lower surface, an upward projecting gage flange at the rear edge at one end, a spring knife at the rear edge at the other end, a rotary disk journaled upon a stationary bearing parallel to the longitudinal motion of the table so that the rear edge of the latter may pass transversely across its edge at the rear of its center line, means of rotating said disk and presenting the end of a strip of stamps under its center, a stationary plate parallel to said disk and an arm pivoted to said plate and having its lower part made tubular and bent across the edge of said disk between it and the table and provided with a sponge or brush, substantially as set forth.

12. In a stamp affixer and recorder, the combin ation of a stationary cylinder adapted to carry a sheet of stamps upon its shell, a stationary gage along one side adapted to receive the edge of the sheet, a movable transverse gage, covers B hinged to said cylinder at- In'testimony whereof I have signed in the their lower edges and meeting at the top so presence of the undersigned Witnesses. as to completely envelop that portion of the cylinder containing the stamps and provided JOHN KEITH. 5 with means of locking them to prevent inter- Vitnesses:

ference with the stamps, substantially as set A. HARVEY,

forth. L. NETER. 

